So if we agree that all humans are one species and all there is to human life, is life itself (previous blogs), then what should be our values and how should we behave? Simplistically, we could behave like all other species of animals, protect ourselves and live in the moment. Why care about what happens to others who are not family or relatives? And stand by while people starve, steal, abuse each other or fight to the death?

How much should we be responsible for other members of our species? In our privileged societies it is easy to stand back and let the rest of the world go its own way. We ignore poverty in other parts of the world; overlook the millions living in slums in Brazil and India; accept the oppression of minorities in China, and the degrading treatment of peasants in North Korea to the benefit of the elite. Should this be the status quo? Other animals do not know what is happening to the rest of their species, but we are acutely aware of human misery elsewhere in the world. And what if we were the ones who were suffering? So, solely because of our awareness of our human kin, we should strive to improve their conditions. But how can we help others if their governments insist on their independence and refuse to permit access to those in need? This is the role of organisations linked to the United Nations, which could, through pressure from the representatives of a majority of countries, insist on being allowed to access, monitor and give aid where needed. The common needs of all humans should triumph over nationalist paranoia.

And what are the common needs of all humans? Basically, sustenance and security, which translates into enough food, a warm dry house, freedom from oppression and other dangers, access to health services and education, and freedom of belief, provided of course that the last does not interfere with the freedoms of others. These needs are included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which, unfortunately, seems to have been overlooked and ignored in recent years. The rise of Capitalism has placed emphasis on the provision of jobs and higher productivity as the only route to human well-being, but these are only means to a goal which invariably benefits the affluent lucky few and too frequently exploits other humans on the way. We could do much better.